Oct 2, 2009 1:14 PM

I am.. tomorrow is my 53 birthday. Activity keeps us young and enjoying life. I play in several tennis leagues and am very active in a hiking club. I recently walked the Disneyland 1/2 marathon. It was very fun and inspiring. BUT my time was 3:30 and in my age group I was in the bottom quarter. Now I realize that many my (our) age wouldn't even attempt such a thing.. still it motivates me to do better next year. That brings me here to C25K. I thought it might be fun to have a thread for us fabulous fifties and above! Care to join?

Yep - 51 here! Haven't officially started yet, have just been reading up. You have a big head start on me though because I am truly a "couch" to 5ker. Not that I sit around on the "couch" all the time, but I have not led a very active lifestyle. As a matter of fact, the most activity I get is walking my dog three times a day! Anyway, today in celebration of "LiveStrong Day" (sponsored by The Lance Armstrong Foundation) I am setting my sights on a 5k sometime next year.

Well I finished C25K on my 49th birthday - but if no one minds I am interested in this thread. I just read in Runners World (birthday present) about this man that started running when he was 49 and he is 77

I loved the program!!! It was great. I used to walk but not alot or anything and I did the program. It wasn't easy but I didn't have to do any of the days over. They said that you should if you need to. But I am still really slow (mostly because I am overweight by 100+ pounds) but I am getting better every time. Every once in awhile I have a bad day but not many.

I'm 56, on week 5 of C25K... and loving it. I have spent more than 1 week on each week but am okay taking it a little slower. I have to keep in mind that I smoked til I was 50, have osteoporosis and osteoarthritis issues (very early on both). It just feels good to run.

Thanks... reading all the entries has given me a new burst of energy. Just checked out the local running sched and found a couple of 5Ks... one toward the end of Oct and one on Thanksgiving. I'll just go as far as I can.

Terrific! Looks like we have a great group started!! You are all inspiring. Joni... ground zero is fine. The nice thing is every little thing you do to get moving is progress. Walking your dog is a great lead up to do a little jogging. One step at a time. I am only on week 2.. so if you get started we'll do it together!

Martha.. You are inspiring. I'm so happy whenever I hear someone was able to quit smoking. Slow and steady wins the race.

Donna.. you are the experienced one in the group with having finished the program. Yeah for you!

Okay.. I know there are more fabulous fifties out there so just chime right in!

I'm 57, started c25k in June and finished late August. An avid walker, I decided I needed more so started this program. Loved it. This forum helped tremendously. The groups on the threads were like a team - we cheered each other on through the hot and humid summer months. It was amazing. Have been running 3-4 times/week since finishing but miss the schedule and direction of the beginning program. This morning I'm starting a program at a local running store. They offer a beginning program (I think it's the Galloway method), and also the "Next Step", which I'll do. Not that I want to go fast, I do want to be a stronger runner, more consistent. It's a 10 week program ending with a 5k in early December. Also registered for a Thanksgiving race, 4.6 miles, so this should help keep me motivated. Went to a workshop on Thursday for that race where a nutritionist spoke, as well as a PT. The PT was great. Fairly young, ran in college, wife was an All American runner, coaches women's team at UConn so a good resource. He spoke to the newbies, and the rest of us "veterans!" about going further with our running. Came away with good information. Bottom line is that if you run long and slow, you will always run slow. So it's key to incorporate runs with a pace faster than your normal - intervals or full runs. So that is what I'm working on. Have been doing a bit of that and do find that my running is getting steadier. One workout this week was just hills - short workout but strong. Hate them but there's no way around them! Sorry for the long wind - haven't posted to any of my threads in a while so needed to spill it out! Raining now so hoping to get some good advice on how to handle this today. I'll keep you posted.

Kate.. Great post! That is what I thought about the practicing slow keeps one slow. That is why I'm trying not to jog slower than I walk as I go thru this program. Although I don't need to go "fast" either, I think when it comes to doing the races it would be nice to be able to do them at a good pace. Especially since I plan on doing the Disney half marathon again next year with my family. My hiking hills makes flat courses seem so much more doable! I am going to do a 5K turkey trot on Thanksgiving day~

Joni... I went to "A snails pace" store to get my running shoes. They fit you and also watch you jog a few steps to see what kind of support you need. It was helpful to have someone help me get the right shoes for my foot. Although it may cost a bit more it felt good knowing I had the proper foot wear. Keep on walking until your ready to start this!

Great Donna! So from your signature it looks like you are planning your first 5k in a few weeks? I can't wait to hear how it goes. I did a 5k quite a few years ago after doing this same program..but I don't even remember my time! I was able to jog the whole thing and it was a great feeling. I am on week 2 of starting over and plan on doing the turkey trot 5k Thanksgiving Day. Jess

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